Posts tagged ‘Belchertown’

I just wanted to pass along that my one of my Quabbin Portfolios, Constructing Quabbin, received a Merit Award from Black and White Magazine and as a result, a number of images from that portfolio has been published in the June edition. I’m honored by the selection. The portfolio should be published on the magazine’s web site shortly. You can find the magazine and ordering information here. However, the web site presentation has not yet gone live, but the magazine is available at places like Barnes and Noble and some independent bookstores, so I thought I’d pass this along. Being on the road and far from any bookstores, I haven’t seen it yet myself and as a result, I don’t know which images they’ve published. So, here are a few of the images they have to work with, as a special sneak preview. Thanks again to Black and White Magazine.

Share this:

It is supposed to be spring here in New England, but it isn’t really. It snowed yesterday a bit though it quickly melted. The wind howled last night, but it has calmed down today, leaving us with a new burst of unseasonably cold weather. This is global weirding, though some claim it is proof that there is no global warming. The earth looks flat from where I sit but it isn’t. When they started the Iditarod in Alaska, they had to import snow to Anchorage. But it remains cold here. Nevertheless, we went out on two occasions in an effort to look at the landscape in a different light. We were cold, but not disappointed. Some photo thoughts from late winter at the Quabbin. First at Goodnough Dike.

It proved to be too early to be able to look at the story underneath the snow at Dana Common.

But the light was working with the trees, juxtaposing old and new.

These old trees have seen a lot. They seem to be saying that they aren’t finished just yet.

Though some seem to be close.

And some, such as these red pines (below) at the Spillway, are gone, but the late winter light tells something of what remains of their story.

So it is late winter.

But soon….

Share this:

One of the many compelling attributes of the Quabbin Reservoir is the on-going dialogue of past and present. Artifacts of the lost four towns and their residents can be found everywhere. Some are easy to miss, like the character trees that line the old roads inside the Quabbin Gates. (Click on the images for a better view.)

I’ve mentioned these before. We noticed their visual presence almost from the first day of shooting here, but didn’t realize until later that they represented the aesthetics of the folks who populated the towns. In many places, the residents, some of them at least, clearly wanted shade and beauty along the sides of their roads. These can be found at Gate 5 in Belchertown along what was once Enfield Road, now an extension of “Old” Enfield Road. This was also state Route 21.

A closer look at the image, however, reveals something else. The road goes directly into the Reservoir. Not a terribly subtle reminder of the history of the Reservoir, not subtle at all. In fact, this road resurfaces about 20 miles to the north at Gate 35 in New Salem. What’s in between? Water.

Lots and lots of water. What you see here was once valley farmland. I have to say that doing justice to this interesting site photographically has been a substantial challenge. Here’s a classic framing shot.

Historically accurate but artistically, I’m not sure. The reality is, you can’t always get the picture that you want. Here’s my favorite.

Some questions are better off left unanswered.

(Tech note: Images taken with an infrared converted Nikon D200, converted to black and white in post production.)

Share this:

Welcome to the environmental photography and sustainability blog of James M. Hunt. Chris, my wife, and I care deeply about our natural environment and in particular those places, beings and phenomena that may not get the attention that they deserve, in spite of their importance. Since the places we tend to frequent may receive a bit less attention, we're often engaged in a process of discovery ourselves. We'll let you know here something of what we learn along the way. Thanks for taking the time to join us.

All images on this site are copyright (c) James M. Hunt, 2010 through 2018 all rights are reserved. No use of any image posted here without written consent.
________________________

FINE ART PRINTING OF WESTBOROUGH
James is also the proprietor of Fine Art Printing of Westborough, a printing, scanning, and photo restoration business operating in Westborough, Massachusetts. You can see the link below. Inquiries are welcomed!